Jesus was speaking to a large crowd. I'm sure they didn't expect Him to begin His message to them the way He did. Jesus said that they were a wicked generation, because they asked Him to perform a miraculous sign. They wanted Jesus to perform some kind of miracle that would prove to them that He was the Messiah. What I don't get, is how these people could still be seeking a sign from Jesus to prove Himself.

Already, Jesus had driven out an evil spirit in the synagogue, healed Peter's mother-in-law, and healed many people with a variety of problems. He healed a man with leprosy and a paralyzed man. In the town of Nain, Jesus raised a widow's son from the dead. He calmed a storm, healed a demoniac, healed a woman with an issue of blood, and raised Jairus' daughter. Five thousand were miraculously fed. What more in the way of signs did the people expect? No wonder Jesus reacted the way He did.

Jesus said that in the same way Jonah was a sign to Nineveh, He would be a sign to His generation. The sign of Jonah was the fact that when Jonah was in the belly of the fish, it was as if he were dead, then came back to the land of the living. Just as Jonah was three days and nights in the fish, Jesus would be three days and nights in the grave. Then Jesus would rise victorious over death, hell and the grave.

In spite of this sign, the vast majority of people in Jesus' day, right up to today, don't believe in Him. This makes me sad, because I know that my relationship with the Jesus has made all of the difference. I hope that others will come to know the Savior I serve.

Pray:

Adoration: God is holy, mighty, gracious, and merciful. Spend time declaring your love for Him and expressing your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession: Ask God to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

Thanksgiving: Express your thankfulness to God for the blessings He has given you. When we consider that we deserve punishment because of our sinfulness, and instead God gives to us His love and mercy, our only response should be one of thankfulness.

Supplication: Petition God regarding your family and your ministry. Ask for help and guidance in sharing your Jesus with others and helping others grow in Him. Offer prayers concerning your activities for this day and any special concerns you may have. Intercede on behalf of local, national, and world missions. Pray the Great Commission would be fulfilled and for any special concerns you may have for missions.